MLS Wrap: Fire break duck in nine-goal thriller

The Chicago Fire won away at the New York Red Bulls in a nine-goal MLS epic.

Published

11 May 2014

The Fire entered their ninth match of the campaign winless, while the Red Bulls were unbeaten at home in four matches so far at the Red Bull Arena.

However, all that changed when the Fire - leading 5-2 at one stage - held on for a famous 5-4 victory.

Harrison Shipp had given the visitors a fourth-minute lead in controversial circumstances, despite Mike Magee seemingly in the play and in an offside position.

The response from the Red Bulls was sharp, with Australia international Tim Cahill - notably infuriated with the non-offside call - nodding in the equaliser two minutes later.

Bradley Wright-Phillips put the Red Bulls in front six minutes out from half-time, but from there, the Fire would take control.

Quincy Amirakwa snuck in behind, and flicked a header into the back of the net for 2-2 early in the second half, before Shipp scored twice in the space of five minutes to complete his hat-trick and all but seal the result for Chicago.

Patrick Nyarko made it 5-2 on 64 minutes, with a cross-cum-shot more salt into the Red Bulls' wounds, however they would not give up without a fight.

Wright-Phillips smashed his second goal of the night home from the edge of the area, before converting a 78th-minute penalty for his hat-trick, and ensuring a nervous finish for the Fire.

But the visitors held on for the three points, to open their winning account in dramatic fashion.